For reasons that have not been explained, the Office of the General Assembly misinterpreted San Diego Presbytery's Overture regarding Recommendation #5 of the Peace Unity and Purity Report, mistakenly categorizing it as relating to changes in the Book of Order, and declined to accept it because it was submitted after the deadline for such changes. Associate Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons signed the letter.

In response, Linda Therien, stated clerk of San Diego Presbytery, wrote a letter, explaining the overture passed on March 21 is very simple and does not attempt to change the Book of Order. "On the contrary," she stated, "the intent of our overture is to be certain that current ordination standards set forth by our constitution be maintained. The Presbytery is clear in their desire to see recommendation #5, and its attendant Authoritative Interpretation, lifted from the Peace Unity & Purity (PUP) report and for the assembly to vote to either accept or reject what remains of the report. Accepting or rejecting a mere report hardly seems tantamount to implementing a change to the Book of Order."

In Louisville in mid-May because of other GA committee responsibilities, Therien and Rev. Chris Lenocker attended the GAC overture review board hearing, and were amazed that the board, without discussion, upheld the earlier decision. "Our overture is very similar to one from Florida that has been accepted," Therien pointed out, "so we feel our views will be heard in committee."

• Letter of Appeal
• Overture to the General Assembly
• Final Resolution

The September 19 meeting of San Diego Presbytery will be held at Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church. After September 5, the date the Presbytery Council meets to approve the agenda for the September 19 meeting, go to the Meetings Page on this website to download posted reports and documents for the meeting.

The Year of Philip

Stephen Covey stated, "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." Philip is a constant reminder to me of the main thing in the church. In the midst of internal conflicts, external opposition and great uncertainty concerning the church's future, Philip focused his energies on sharing the amazing love of God in Jesus Christ with the lost. In the church, sharing Jesus Christ with the lost is the main thing.

As you know, each of my reports to the presbytery this year will include "best practices testimonies," which will highlight churches engaged in the types of evangelism described in my initial Year of Philip report. As we share what God is doing in our churches to reach the lost, I pray we will encourage one another to focus our energies on the Church's missional identity and purpose in these uncertain days.

1. Philip reminds us of God's heart for the lost across the aisle…in the church. Philip shared the love of Jesus Christ with a man who had just come from worship (Acts 8:26-29). Philip reminds us that many even inside the church need the Savior. God loves the lost who sit across the aisle.
   
   
   • Best Practices Testimony: Kirk Bottomly, Pastor of Fallbrook Presbyterian Church, will share how the youth ministry programs of Fallbrook Presbyterian Church are transforming the lives of hundreds of teenagers in the area. Between 300 and 400 teenagers are involved in the weekly youth programs at the church. The membership of Fallbrook is approximately 400 with over 500 attending worship each Sunday. Approximately 100 of the 350 people attending the 10:45 am worship service are teenagers.
   
   
   
2. Philip reminds us of God's heart for the lost across the street…in the community. Philip shared the love of Jesus Christ with people in the neighboring community of Samaria (Acts 8:4-8). Philip reminds us that people just outside the doors of the church need the Savior. God loves the lost who live across the street.
   
   
   • Best Practices Testimony: Elder Elizabeth Crews (First Presbyterian, San Diego) will share the vision and mission of "The Ladle Fellowship." Ladle's purpose is to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ in word and deed with the homeless community of downtown San Diego as an extension of First Presbyterian Church. Jesus Christ is shared through a soup kitchen, clothing distribution, relational evangelism, Thursday evening discipleship class and a unique worship experience every Sunday.
   
   
   
3. Philip reminds us of God's heart for the lost across the seas…in the world. Philip shared the love of Jesus Christ with a man from Ethiopia (Acts 8:26-38). Philip reminds us that everyone needs the Savior. God loves the lost who live across the seas.



• Best Practices Testimony: Tom Theriault, Associate Pastor of Mission at Solana Beach Presbyterian Church will share the foundational holistic work of the Kingdom being shared with our "A" friends in the deserts of Northeastern Ethiopia. Seven years ago, Solana Beach Presbyterian Church initiated a partnership with the Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Mecane Yesus and World Vision Ethiopia. The Presbytery of San Diego has now joined that partnership.



• Best Practices Testimony: Jeff Holmes, Associate Pastor of Mission at La Jolla Presbyterian Church will share La Jolla's partnership in mission and evangelism with World Vision and 12 other churches in an Area Development Project in Malawi, Africa. A Mission Trip with several individuals from La Jolla is leaving for Malawi this week.

Is your church growing, on the incline? At a plateau, or in recline? Or on the downward path, in decline?

United Front Ministries, based in Richmond, Virginia, conducts church redevelopment workshops around the nation. Ken Priddy and Pat Bragg, church redevelopment specialists, are presenting a series here in San Diego Presbytery. Six churches are already participating. More churches can still join in. For more information, contact Rev. David Pierson at La Mesa Presbyterian Church, 619-463-4491.

Pierson said the goal of Project 6:15 is to prepare and equip the pastor and the congregation's leadership team to lead the church into becoming a healthy, growing and multiplying church.

By Executive Presbyter Rev. Andy Smith

1. Provide visionary leadership for the presbytery, while interpreting the ongoing "local, regional, and national conversations" regarding the changing landscape of the PC(USA). Update: I introduced the "Year of Philip" to the council, the COM, and the presbytery in the first quarter of 2006. The biblical character of Philip was chosen to help keep the presbytery focused on the missional nature and purpose of the church in days of great uncertainty concerning the changing landscape of the PC (USA). I have received many compliments on this focus at this specific time. I have spoken in several of our churches regarding the major issues facing our denomination this summer as a result of the final report of the Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church.



2. Provide visionary leadership for the council and the Committee on Ministry in facilitating healthy conversations among our pastors and churches relating to the 2006 Birmingham General Assembly. Update: I have worked very closely with Moderator Jack Baca, Vice-Moderator Neal Nybo, Stated Clerk Linda Therien, and Council Chair Dick Berry in dealing with the potential crisis surrounding the resolution from seven of our churches, the open letter from various individuals, the alternate resolution, and the two overtures acted on by the presbytery on March 21. I met individually with various pastors and worked with the rewriting team to present the alternate resolution to the presbytery. I was very pleased to see the presbytery in March adopt a resolution by approximately 90% and an overture by almost 100% of the body. We have come a long way in the past six months in dealing with these potentially explosive and divisive issues.



3. Provide visionary leadership with the Executive Committee of Council for a new task force charged with creating goals and objectives related to the four areas of focus in the report of the Long Range Planning Task Force. Update: At this time, the Executive Committee of Council has not yet established this new task force.




4. Provide visionary leadership for the Evangelism Committee. Update: I have worked very closely with Rev. Dave Pierson, Chair of the Evangelism Committee, in the first quarter of this year. The committee has committed the year to prayer and will be "walking the walls" (Nehemiah 2:11-16) of our presbytery to discern future ministries related to evangelism.

   The committee is also sponsoring a redevelopment program for 2006 and 2007 called "Project 6:15". The goal of Project 6:15 is for ten PSD churches to walk together for 16 months as they focus their ministries outward, into the immediate communities in which they reside. A training workshop was held on May 3-4 at Faith Presbyterian Church. This workshop was a follow-up to the "Rebuilding the Walls" workshop in November 2005 and was attended by 55 pastors/leaders from 14 of our churches. The energy and enthusiasm surrounding Project 6:15 is high.

5. Provide visionary leadership for the Missions Committee. Update: I have worked closely with Rev. Mark Swarner, Chair of the Missions Committee, to focus the energy of the committee on two operative words this year: connect and collaborate. Mark has worked hard to introduce the first PSD mission trip to the Gulf Coast to assist in relief efforts. The trip will take place May 22 to May 28 and is already filled up with fourteen individuals from six of our churches.

   The second PSD mission trip to Ethiopia has been scheduled for February 19 - 28, 2007. The purpose of the trip is to further develop and nurture the partnership between the Presbytery of San Diego, World Vision Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Mecane Yesus (Dwelling of Jesus), as we walk beside and love in word and deed the beautiful people of the Afar desert community in Northeastern Ethiopia.

6. Provide visionary leadership for the Committee on Ministry. Update: Working directly on matters relating to COM continues to take the majority of my time and energy. I have worked very closely with the following six search committees in the process of seeking a head-of-staff pastor: La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Mt. Soledad, Chula Vista, Westminster SD, and Northminster. It appears that each of these churches will complete the search process by the end of the summer. Several of the searches are for designated pastors. I have also assisted the COM in providing part-time stated supply leadership for churches in transition.



7. Provide visionary leadership concerning the long-term viability of the Presbyterian Crisis Center. Update: On March 21, the presbytery created a five-person task force to consider the long-term vision and viability of the Presbyterian Crisis Center. The members of the PCC Re-visioning Task Force are Rev. Ray Sparling (Rancho Bernardo), Rev. Jan Farley (Village Rancho Santa Fe), Allen Randall (First, San Diego), Elder Bob Collins (First, El Cajon) and Elder Jim Beatty (Graham, Coronado). The task force has been charged with presenting a report to the presbytery in September 2006, concerning the future direction, vision, and mission of the PCC. I have been asked to represent the presbytery by serving as a liaison to this task force.



8. Provide visionary leadership for the Human Resources Committee in developing a long-range staffing plan. Update: The HR Committee has been very active in the first quarter of 2006. Matters relating to Reality Changers, the complete restructuring of the Finance Department, employees at Iglesia and the Presbyterian Crisis Center, and the final stages of the decentralization of the Military Outreach Ministries have taken much time and energy thus far in 2006. The committee is planning to set aside time for a retreat in the next several months, to discuss a long-range staffing plan that reflects the priorities of the Long Range Planning Task Force.



9. Provide visionary leadership for the Budget, Property and Finance Committee. Update: Debbie Clauson and I have worked closely with the BP&F Committee to evaluate and redirect our current investment portfolio to enhance the presbytery's investment income. Chair John Lucas has worked hard to maximize our investment income, while reducing our debt load. Approval of the 2006 operating budget has been delayed this year because 30% of our churches were late in submitting their Shared Mission Pledges. I am working closely with the finance department and BP&F to finalize the operating budget and present it for adoption at the May 16 presbytery meeting.



10. Provide visionary leadership for the Committee on Preparation for Ministry. Update: The leadership of Rev. John Powell is breathing new life and vitality into CPM. John and I plan to provide the leadership for a retreat in the fall, to introduce the vocation of pastoral ministry to high school seniors. Also planned in December is a Christmas party for all PSD inquirers and candidates. The committee has a renewed commitment to serving, caring for, and walking alongside those who have been entrusted to our care as they prepare for ordained ministry.

From Moderator Rick Ufford-Chase's Blog, "What I See"

Friends,

Becky White Newgren, a student at Princeton Theological Seminary, sent me this photo of Princeton students who wanted to make a statement about their common commitment to unity as we approach the Presbyterian General Assembly in June. Here's her explanation of how it came to be and the message they wanted to send:

One hundred and twenty-five students including many faculty and administrators stood side by side on the steps of Miller Chapel at Princeton Theological Seminary on April 17th, 2006 to symbolize their commitment to the unity of the Presbyterian Church (USA). They responded to a couple emails and a few signs that asked them to put their face behind the following statement:

Being aware of many issues that could divide the PCUSA, we stand here representing different viewpoints on these issues, but we desire to reflect the unity of Christ and to serve in ministry together.

Organizing this photo is something that God laid on my heart. I procrastinated for a while, but then realized that if I, a future PCUSA minister, felt like I wanted to say something to the General Assembly this summer, maybe others at Princeton Seminary did as well. As a denomination, we have some very serious issues before us that we need to consider humbly before our God. The Church for centuries has let serious issues divide it, and I pray that the PCUSA can find a way to be the body of Christ together in all of our diversities. It is my prayer that the PCUSA will realize that the unity of Christ is much stronger than any current issues that divide us.

Those are my words. The people in the picture agreed only to the statement. But the photo itself was an event! At any seminary, students are often given the opportunity to agree and disagree over theological and political matters, but that day on the steps of the chapel, people who are typically on polar opposite sides of any debate came together in a spirit of humility and gratitude, in the Spirit of God, to stand for unity in the PCUSA. Our hope is that this photo will make a positive impact on the commissioners and visitors at General Assembly this June.

Friends, as we approach this Assembly, I ask you to be in prayer for our church, not for its own sake, but for the sake of all that we can accomplish when we agree to put first things first and to truly live our faith in Jesus Christ in the world.

As Moderator, I've grown into a new respect for the letters of Paul. He also was dealing with early Christians who were deeply divided - over what they believed to be matters of great substance. Check out his advice to the Philippians in the second chapter (New Testament - small book toward the back :)

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete; be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human for, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross.

May we hold Paul's words, and this powerful image from the students at Princeton, in our hearts as we approach this important moment in the life of the church.

Thanks Becky!

Posted by Rick Ufford-Chase to U-C: What I See at 5/26/2006 07:18:00 PM

Some three dozen men from Lakeside, El Cajon and Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Churches joined together for the East County Presbyterian Men's Retreat, May 19-21, at Pine Valley Bible Conference Center. Leading the study on "Living, Loving and Leading in the Kingdom of God" was Rev. Dr. John R. Lillis, dean and executive officer of Bethel Seminary in San Diego.

A 14-man work party, sponsored by San Diego Presbytery and led by Mission Chair Rev. Mark Swarner, has come along side members of the First Presbyterian Church of Bay St. Louis in Mississippi, to help with general home repair and reconstruction, May 22-28.

A work team from Rancho Bernardo CPC is planning to go to Bay St. Louis as well, June 25-July 1. In addition to repair and reconstruction with the Bay St. Louis folks, they will also support a food pantry and other ministries of Diamondhead Community Church in Diamondhead, Mississippi.

First Presbyterian Church, San Diego, is planning a series of mission trips in August, October and November to Covington, Louisiana. Work will involve general house gutting and tree removal, plus some minor reconstruction.

Solana Beach and Graham Memorial, Coronado, are planning a similar work projects.

Representatives of Lutheran and Presbyterian churches from Southern California and Texas met in Huntington Beach on Saturday, May 20, to renew their commitments to Mekane Yesus (House of Jesus) in Ethiopia and its outreach to the Afar peoples who live in a remote desert area that the National Geographic called "the most desolate place on the Earth."

The Afar country is about the size and population of Idaho and has the poorest of forgotten peoples. These people are still herding cattle in a nomadic style and live off herding goats, sheep, cattle and camels. They are 5% literate and 97.3 Muslim.

In 1997 leaders of Mekane Yesus contacted the Presbyterian Church (USA) and World Vision to help them help the Afar peoples. They first prioritized the Afar's needs: water and pastures for themselves and their animals, education for their children and health care for themselves and their animals. Rev. Dave Housholder of Grace Lutheran Church quoted an Afar proverb, "Many spider webs taken together can catch a lion." And it seems to be coming true; the spider webs are catching the lion.

Rev. Tom Theriault, Associate Pastor for Missions at Solana Beach Presbyterian Church, related the history the church's involvement in sending teams to visit followed by the commitment of his church to helping the Afar people in a variety of ways.

Executive Presbyter Rev. Andy Smith of the San Diego Presbytery recounted the ways God paved the way for his visit to Ethiopia last November. The "lions" that the Afar face, he said, are lack of water, disease, ignorance and a very difficult terrain. The web spinners are the Afar people themselves, the MekaneYesus, World Vision, the 15 churches in the U. S. which are in partnership and an loving God that has brought all of them together.

The Mekane Yesus Christians have been persecuted for their faith and yet have grown 500% since 1996. Today there are 4.2 million members, 5,000 congregations and one thousand pastors. Three of their churches were burned after the Danish cartoon lampooning Mohammad was published. The Mekane Yesus representative, Aklilu Dufera, who spent 8 years in prison, was at this reunion to relay some of the successes and the desires of the Afars, and he thanked everyone for their interest and help.

"Little by little the egg learns to walk," proverbed Rev. Theriault. "Through love, baby steps lead to childhood." Tom knows first-hand that, "You reach a community by loving its children," because he has "fallen in love with their beautiful and smiling faces," and by helping build "a bridge of love and trust."

Rev. Smith related the times he felt alive in Ethiopia, even when the U.S. Consulate in Ethiopia kept his delegation from traveling to the Afars and confined to their hotel for three days. "A village without a school is like a room without windows," quoted Andy. He remembered assuring his Muslim hosts that there were thousands of ambassadors in the U. S. for the Afar peoples. He also quoted a Muslim who said, "Muslim extremists prey on poverty; and an ounce of love is better than a ton of bombs."

Rev. Russ Lackey, a Lutheran minister, compared the work in Ethiopia with Isaiah 35. "Even the wilderness and desert will rejoice in those days; the desert will blossom with flowers. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the Lebanon mountains, as lovely as Mount Carmel's pastures and Sharon's meadows: for the Lord will display his glory there, the excellency of our God."

Canals, schools, latrines, clinics for people and animals, water wells and special desert plants have been introduced in this desert and the people are blooming. For the Afars, their land is blooming and they are joyous. But there is still much work to be done. The Afars want a bridge over the Awash River so that some isolated Afar people can also participate in the blooming of their country. And they want more schools for their children. World Vision and Mekane Yesus have promised $480,000 a year for the development of the Afar. More help is needed.

After an Ethiopian dinner, eight travelers to the Afars in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 showed their pictures and told of their excitement and adventures. The smiling faces and the pride that the Afars showed in the traveler's pictures did more than words. Theriault played a video showing the progress of the Afars.

He has copies of this informative but dated CD on the Afar lands as well as a 2006 Lenten booklet on the Afars. Both can be ordered from him at Solana Beach Presbyterian, www.theriault@solanapres.org.

New Pastor Called to Pacific Beach Presbyterian Church
Rev. Dr. Alan Deuel was received into the membership of the Presbytery of San Diego in order that he may accept the call of the Pacific Beach Presbyterian Church to become their Designated Pastor effective June 19. Rev. Gary Robertson has served as part-time Stated Supply at Pacific Beach Presbyterian Church from April 1 until the arrival of the new Pastor.

Rev. Jackson Clelland, formerly associate pastor at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Spring Valley, has accepted a call to be a Designated Associate Pastor at University Place Presbyterian Church in University Place, Washington, effective May 7, 2006.

Rev. Brad Gustafson, formerly Interim Associate Pastor at Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church, has accepted a call to be the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

Rev. Galdino Don Juan, Associate Pastor at Solana Beach Presbyterian Church, will be Honorably Retired effective July 1, 2006.

Rev. Ed Girod is serving as part-time Temporary Supply at Chula Vista Presbyterian Church from April 17 until a new pastor arrives.

Presbytery Missions Committee will host a Presbytery-wide, All-Church Mission Festival at the November Meeting of Presbytery, scheduled for the 21st at Grace Presbyterian Church in Vista. Church mission committees are invited to prepare tabletop displays, photo boards, booklets or other materials to tell the story of the missions each church supports